Knights boss says the club won't influence Kalyn Ponga's Origin decision and will support whatever he decides

Ponga and Knights teammates Edrick Lee and Hymel Hunt were all named yesterday in a Maroons extended squad for the Origin series. Despite his utility value, Kurt Mann was over-looked.

Ponga will consult a shoulder specialist today before making a final call on whether to play after carrying the injury for the past six weeks.

Prior to the Knights' elimination final loss to South Sydney, the club was hopeful the injury was not serious and would only require minor surgery.

But reports over the past few days have suggested scans revealed a far more serious labral tear which could mean anywhere from three to six months on the sideline if he needs a shoulder reconstruction.

Either way, Gardner said the club will be supporting whatever decision "Team Ponga" comes up with, claiming the club will never stop any of its players from playing representative footy.

"You don't stop people playing Origin," he said.

"They are entitled to play and if they get picked, they play.

"KP's decision to play Origin or not will be made by 'Team Ponga' - Kalyn, his family and his management team. There'll be input from us around all of that but we won't be influencing him in any way and will be totally supporting whatever decision Team Ponga comes up with.

"He'll get some specialist advice and come back to us with a decision."

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Ponga will become the Knights first million dollar player next season but Gardner claims that doesn't give the club the right to dictate whether he can or can't play representative footy.

"There is always an injury risk with representative football," he said. "A guy could go out there and play and do an ACL or a shoulder and be gone for a whole season. We've seen that sort of scenario plenty of times with players in representative games. That's just the risk we are all taking. That's the challenge and you pay a lot of money for them because they are great players.

"At the end of the day, we would not stand in the way of any player from playing a State of Origin or a Test match for their country. So if there is a decision to be made, it will be made by Team Ponga and we will 100 percent support it. We want as many representative players as we can fit in. The more high quality players, it stands to reason the more success we are going to have."

Lee's squad selection came despite him missing nine games mid-season after breaking his arm.

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